Apparatus for feeding filled containers to a retort or the like

ABSTRACT

A method of and apparatus for feeding filled containers to a retort or the like. A pocket conveyor is immersed in a suitable liquid, such as water, and has filled containers transferred thereto from an input conveyor. The pocket conveyor is incrementally advanced in synchronism with the advance of filled containers on the input conveyor with the presence of individual containers being detected by a suitable means such as a photocell. The liquid is preferably heated so as to maintain the contents of the containers at or near the temperature at which they have been filled. The liquid is maintained at such a height so as to effect a cushioning of the filled containers as they are transferred from the input conveyor to the pocket conveyor. In addition, the liquid functions to permit a quality control inspection on the containers to be performed in that those containers having too much air therein float in the liquid.

United States Patent Hartz 51 May 16, 1972 [72] Inventor: Gerald Hartz,Wheaton, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond,

[22] Filed: Mar. 31,1970

[2]] Appl. No.: 24,089

[52] US. Cl ..99/360, 99/405, 99/407, 99/443 [51 Int. Cl. ..A47j 27/20[58] Field of Search ..99/443, 360, 405, 403, 249, 99/252, 234, 324,404, 406, 407

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,006,832 7/1935 Hunter..99/405 2,527,687 10/1950 Stock ..99/404 2,853,937 9/1958 Peck ..99/404Primary Examiner-Robert W. Jenkins Attorney-Glenn, Palmer, Lyne, Gibbs &Thompson [57] ABSTRACT A method of and apparatus for feeding filledcontainers to a retort or the like. A pocket conveyor is immersed in asuitable liquid, such as water, and has filled containers transferredthereto from an input conveyor. The pocket conveyor is incrementallyadvanced in synchronism with the advance of filled containers on theinput conveyor with the presence of individual containers being detectedby a suitable means such as a photocell. The liquid is preferably heatedso as to maintain the contents of the containers at or near thetemperature at which they have been filled. The liquid is maintained atsuch a height so as to effect a cushioning of the filled containers asthey are transferred from the input conveyor to the pocket conveyor. Inaddition, the liquid functions to permit a quality control inspection onthe containers to be performed in that those containers having too muchair therein float in the liquid.

4 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure APPARATUS FOR FEEDING FILLED CONTAINERS TO ARETORT OR THE LIKE This invention'relates to a method of and apparatusfor feeding filled containers, and more particularly to such a methodand apparatus wherein the filled containers are deposited in a rackloading device preparatory to being processed in a retort or othercooking apparatus.

It has long been desirable to avoid hand loading of filled containersonto a rack loading device so as to eliminate the costly handlingthereof. However, many containers pose handling problems especially whenthey are transferred from one conveyor to another. Flexible pouches, forexample, will not withstand rough handling and are susceptible to beingruptured in the sealed area. Smooth wall containers on the other hand,suffer from denting which results in an unsightly container.

It is also desirable to be able to perform a quality control check orinspection of the containers and especially one which indicates theamount of air which is left in the container. Too much air in a pouch,for example, afiects its processing especially where the pouches areprocessed on a heat-time cycle. Finally, it is desirable to maintain thetemperature of the product within the container at or near thetemperature at which they have been filled.

In accordance with the present invention, method of and apparatus forloading filled containers onto a pocket conveyor is devised wherein theloading may be accomplished automatically without either rupturing theseam of the pouch material or denting smooth wall containers. Inaddition, the method and apparatus of the present invention permit aquality control check or inspection to be performed on the containers bydetecting those containers having too much air therein. Finally, themethod and apparatus of the present invention permit the containers tobe maintained at or near their filling temperature.

in accordance with the present invention, a pocket conveyor is immersedin a liquid and filled containers are fed forward along an inputconveyor, transferred from the input conveyor to the pocket conveyor,after which the filled containers are inspected to determine if anexcess of air is trapped therein.

The liquid is preferably heated so as to maintain the temperature of theproduct within the container at or near the temperature at which thecontainers have been filled. The liquid used to immerse the pocketconveyor is maintained at such a height so as to effect a cushioning ofthe containers when they are transferred from the input conveyor to thepocket conveyor. In order to ensure that each pocket on the pocketconveyor is filled, means are provided for detecting the the presence offilled containers on the input conveyor and for advancing the pocketconveyor in synchronism with the detection of filled containers on theinput conveyor.

The inherent advantages and improvements of the present invention willbecome more readily apparent upon considering the following detaileddescription of the invention and by reference to the drawing in which:

The sole FIGURE is a fragmentary side elevational view of the apparatusof the present invention with portions thereof broken away.

The designation input conveyor and pocket conveyor are used throughoutthe description as a matter of convenience and are used in a descriptivesense and not in a limiting manner. It is to be understood that theterms cover the transfer of articles from one feed means to another feedmeans where the latter feed means functions under a liquid.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown an input conveyor,indicated generally at 10, which feeds a number of filled containers 12forwardly from right to left in the figure along an upper flight 14 ofinput conveyor 10. For purposes of this invention, filled containers 12may be pouches or smooth wall containers with the drawing showingpouches as a typical container. In actual practice, the containers 12have just been filled, preferably at an elevated temperature, completelysealed, then fed forwardly by means of conveyor 10 toward a pocketconveyor, indicated generally at 16.

A trough or housing, indicated generally at 18 having a bottom 20 andsuitable side walls one of which is indicated at 22 permits the pocketconveyor 16 to be immersed'in a liquid for purposes to be describedhereinafter.

The pocket conveyor 16 is provided with a plurality of upstandingdivider members 24 which are attached to and retained by a pair ofsuitable side guide members, one of which is shown at 26, in order toprovide pockets for the reception of containers 12 therein. Pocketconveyor 16 is advanced by rack means 28 which meshes with gear meanssuch as is indicated at 30 in order to provide an incremental advancethereto. I

A photocell means 32 associated with the input conveyor 10 detects thepresence of articles 12 being fed forwardly on input conveyor 10 so asto provide the signal for the incremental advance to gear 30 and thenceto'rack 28 and pocket conveyor l6.

Any suitable photocell means 32 may be used for purposes of thisinvention. Thus if the article 12 is made of a highly reflectivematerial such as aluminum, the photocell 32 may be actuated solely byreflected light from the container 12.

After detection by the photocell means 32, the containers 12 aretransferred to the pocket conveyor 16 by means of slide 34 and a hopper,indicated generally at 36. Hopper 36 is provided with side walls 38 anda bottom opening designated 40.

The liquid 42 within the pocket conveyor 16 is immersed is preferablyheated so as to maintain the temperature of the product within filledcontainers 12 at or near the filling temperature therefor. The liquid 42is filled to such a height so as to effect a cushioning of containers 12as they are transferred from the input conveyor 10 to the pocketconveyor 16 through the intermediary of slide 34 and hopper 36. It isdesirable to have the divider members 24 extend above or at least nearthe upper surface of liquid 42 to provide a guiding function and toensure that an individual container 12 is inserted on the desiredpocket. That is, reliance cannot be made it having the containerssinking aimlessly toward the pockets in pocket conveyor 16. In additionto maintaining the container at the filling temperature and cushioningit as it is dropped into the pocket conveyor 16, the liquid 42 whichimmerses conveyor 16 also functions to perform a quality control checkor inspection of an individual container. Thus an indication is giventhat a container has an excess of air therein whereby the containerfloats as is designated at 12a so that it may be suitably tagged orremoved.

It is within the scope of this invention to use a liquid other thanwater which has a specific gravity different from that of water suchthat the container will float for a prescribed minimum amount of airentrapped within the container. Mixtures of different fluids includingwater are also possible so as to obtain a desired specific gravity.

While the present invention has been described with respect to a flowprocess where the number of containers on the input conveyorsubstantially matches the number of pockets in the pocket conveyor, thepresent invention may also be combined with an escapement mechanismwhich controls the output from the hopper 36. Such a change permits theapparatus to be employed in a pasteurization process, for example,wherein the pocket conveyor 16 passes first through a tank'where thecontainers are immersed in water, that is, heated to pasteurize the foodproduct within the pouches and is then lifted from the pasteurizing tankinto a cooling tank with the aid of suitable guide rollers. The lengthof travel through the pasteurizing tank is made sufficiently long for agiven intermittent advance to insure the proper amount ofpasteurization. The pouches are unloaded from the pocket conveyor afteremergence from the cooling tank and then returned in a continuous loopto the input to the pasteurizing tank beneath the hopper discharge.

It may be convenient to fill every other pocket in the pocket conveyor16 with the aid of the escapement mechanism. This has the addedadvantage of assuring ample circulation of water around an individualpackage in the pasteurizing tank.

A typical temperature for the water in the pasteurizing tank is from 200F. to 210 1-. Such a pasteurizing process is particularly well suited tohigh acid foods, such as sauerkraut or the like.

While presently preferred embodiments of the invention have beendescribed and illustrated, it will be recognized that the invention maybe otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of theclaims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for feeding filled containers to a retort or the likecomprising a. an input conveyor means for advancing said fillercontainers,

Y b. a pocket conveyor means for receiving said filled containers fromsaid input conveyor means,

c. and transfer means for delivering said filled containers from saidinput conveyor means to-said pocket conveyor means,

d. said pocket conveyor means being immersed in a liquid to a depthsufficient to cushion the delivery of said containers from said inputconveyor means to said pocket conveyor means and to perform a qualitycontrol inspection on said containers by causing containers with toomuch air therein to float in said liquid,

. wherein said input conveyor means has photocell means associatedtherewith for detecting the presence of filled containers thereon andsaid pocket conveyor means has drive means cooperatively associatedtherewith for advancing said pocket conveyor means a given incrementeach time said photocell means detects the presence of a filledcontainer on said input conveyor.

2. An apparatus for feeding filled containers to a retort or the like asdefined in claim 1 wherein said liquid is heated to maintain thecontents of said containers at an elevated temperature.

3. An apparatus for feeding filled containers to a retort or the like asdefined in claim 1 wherein said liquid used to immerse said pocketconveyor means is hot water.

4. An apparatus for feeding filled containers to a retort or the like asdefined in claim 1 wherein said transfer means includes slide and hoppermeans.

1. An apparatus for feeding filled containers to a retort or the likecomprising a. an input conveyor means for advancing said fillercontainers, b. a pocket conveyor means for receiving said filledcontainers from said input conveyor means, c. and transfer means fordelivering said filled containers from said input conveyor means to saidpocket conveyor means, d. said pocket conveyor means being immersed in aliquid to a depth sufficient to cushion the delivery of said containersfrom said input conveyor means to said pocket conveyor means and toperform a quality control inspection on said containers by causingcontainers with too much air therein to float in said liquid, e. whereinsaid input conveyor means has photocell means associated therewith fordetecting the presence of filled containers thereon and said pocketconveyor means has drive means cooperatively associated therewith foradvancing said pocket conveyor means a given increment each time saidphotocell means detects the presence of a filled container on said inputconveyor.
 2. An apparatus for feeding filled containers to a retort orthe like as defined in claim 1 wherein said liquid is heated to maintainthe contents of said containers at an elevated temperature.
 3. Anapparatus for feeding filled containers to a retort or the like asdefined in claim 1 wherein said liquid used to immerse said pocketconveyor means is hot water.
 4. An apparatus for feeding filledcontainers to a retort or the like as defined in claim 1 wherein saidtransfer means includes slide and hopper means.